Most common culprit is a burst pipe in the ground somewhere. Doesn't mean it definitely is but I'd suspect that first.
this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2024
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Is there a filter between the faucet and the water from the well?
Not sure I'd have to ask my dad, but there's no filter on the faucet itself.
I'm not sure about a dirt smell but a sulfur taste/smell is from iron eating bacteria in the ground water. I doubt it would be the faucet/pipes.
Water tastes fine, it just for some reason has an earthy smell in the kitchen.
Silly, but, stick your head over the kitchen sink drain and sniff. Does it smell earthy there? If you fill a container with water and smell just the water, is that what smells? Like the actual water?
Does it smell more when you use hot versus cold, or vice versa? Smell about the same either way? Do you have a disposal in the sink?
No disposal, it smelled when I was using the hot water.
Shooting from the hip, algae bloom. If youre in an area with high iron content, drawing from a well, and it’s predominantly hot side, id bet its algae.
This can be treated at the water heater with 3% peroxide, and changing the anode rod. Most anodes are magnesium, and magnesium anodes usually give you a sulphury/rotten egg smell, but they can also cause the iron oxidizing bacteria to go nuts, and thise give you an earthy odor. The bacteria are in the whole sustem, but being in the water heater is an ideal condition for growth.
There are a ton of videos on YT on how to treat the water heater, and how to change an anode rod. Its not hard to change the anode, but youre likely to need a damn rattle gun to get the anode rod loose. Some of them can be a real MFer to crack loose. Of for some reason you do, go back with aluminum instead of magnesium. Be wary, messing with the water heater is simple, but sometimes, especially when dealing with an older water heater, cracking open fittings can sometimes cause more problems than it solves.
Id also maybe keep in mind having someone come look at your water well, and consider treating the well with chlorine to kill off the bacteria responsible.
Out of curiosity, how deep is the well, how much does it produce, what depth is the pump set at?
Out of curiosity, how deep is the well, how much does it produce, what depth is the pump set at?
No clue I'd have to ask my dad, but thanks for the response. I'll tell him all this when I see him.
Does the water still smell like dirt outside of the kitchen?
Nope just the kitchen, i'll ask my dad tomorrow how his water is downstairs
Sorry I mean, if you take a glass of water from the kitchen faucet and move it to another room, does the smell remain?
It might be that the drain has a dirt smell that doesn't become apparent until water is flowing is my thought.
Just tested it, the water didn't smell and I didn't smell anything in the drain, but the faucet has a faint earthy smell
Sorry, i just got off el job for the day. Thats odd. Just localized to the kitchen? Sure it isnt anywhere else? It isnt likely to be a faucet problem.
Is the water brackish? Like cloudy, or discolored at all? Does it get worse after a rain event?
I did rain today and yesterday, water quality is fine though it's clear